Guilderland- Rose M. Balander, 86, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at St. Peter’s Hospital, with her family by her side.

Rose was born on March 5, 1928, to the late Dominic and Lucy Donato, in Slingerlands, NY. After high school she attended Ellis School of Nursing and Syracuse University to prepare her for her career as a school nurse at Christ the King School in Guilderland. Rose was an active church member at St. Madeleine Sophie where she was a Eucharistic Minister and belonged to the Rosary Society, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the “Plus 50 Club”, and for the past ten years she was a member of The American Italian Heritage Association.


Rose will be remembered by her loving husband, Robert Balander, of 60 years, her children; Therese (Randy) Munroe, Robert (Jane) Balander, her grandchildren; Patrick (Jacquelyn) Munroe, Nichole (Joshua) Snipes, her great-grandson, Wesley Munroe, her brother, Charlie (Mary) Donato and several nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her siblings, Anne (Andy) Bovitz, Louie (Mary) Donato, Tony (Delorez) Donato, Sam (Mary) Donato, and Frankie (Helen) Donato.

Visitation will be held at St. Madeleine Sophie Church, on Monday, December 22, 2014, from 10:00am to 11:00am, with a mass of Christian Burial to immediately follow. Interment will take place at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Italian Heritage Assoc. 1227 Central Ave. Albany NY 12205 or St Jude's Children's Charity 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis TN 38105.